Energizing ourselves for change and engaging Michiganders to win victories on the things that matter to them is the focus of the 2012 Michigan Summit.

The arena of civic engagement has never been more promising and exciting as citizens from across the state prepare to address issues such as more and better jobs, corporate power and transparency, workplace freedom, and to end the bigotry of discrimination that stresses families and keeps Michigan from being a welcoming place for all.

At this year’s Michigan Summit, we have an ambitious goal in mind: reaching across movements, geography, race and gender to provide people the skills and the ideas they need to make the American Dream a possibility for all of us in 2012.

People are beginning to understand that inequality doesn’t just happen. Rather, it is a result of our state and national policies and what we choose to invest in as a country. The Occupy movement, newly energized and empowered workers, educators, clean energy advocates and an inspired Michigan human rights community—all of us must be citizen managers.

We’re ready to make it happen. Are you? If so, here’s why you should attend the 2012 Michigan Summit:

• If you are an activist, the Summit is a great place to network and provides the opportunity to meet hundreds of potential new volunteers and partner organizations.
• If you are a grassroots volunteer, or someone seeking to plug into a campaign about an issue that you care about, the Summit is a forum that helps match attendees with like-minded organizations to harness their energy and promote sustained change in 2012.
• To be inspired! The Michigan Summit will feature exciting speakers, dynamic presenters and cutting edge breakout sessions that will challenge you, teach you something that you didn’t know and inspire you to take action.
• To take part in setting the stage for promoting progressive policies in 2012.  Summit attendees will help build a roster of successful initiatives to compete for priority attention by all candidates, regardless of political party.
• To expand the civic engagement community by reaching out and creating new allies across movements. The Summit will bring together a broad spectrum of groups from faith-based community activists, LGBT rights advocates, the Occupy Movement and Michigan Uncut participants, organized labor and clean energy advocates. We will create a space where activists can find common ground and build coalitions and strategies to win!